Today's links: Michigan keeps drawing praise

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 5 years ago

Bradley Leeb-USA TODAY Sports

Today's links: Michigan keeps drawing praise

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 5 years ago

Let’s begin daily links with a homage to Michigan. I think it’s the best team in America, at least this week. And count the great Loren Tate of the Champaign News-Gazette among those who also are impressed with Michigan, which quelled any notion Illinois had of upsetting the Wolverines with impressive penetration and passing on Sunday en route to improving to 19-1 with a win over the Fighting Illini.

But Michigan’s next three road games will be killer: Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan State. If the Wolverines survive that gauntlet, I’ll really be impressed. And so should you.

Well, Wisconsin hasn’t even reached the halfway point in league play this season and already has matched that total. Amazing. Wisconsin is shooting 40.2 percent from the field and a league-worst 51.9 percent from the line in Big Ten play, yet the Badgers find themselves just one game out of first place. Wisconsin has perfected the art of winning ugly.

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First-year Nebraska hoops coach Tim Miles may look mild-mannered, but he has lots of fire. And he showed it during a critical timeout during a big weekend victory over Northwestern.

Steve Sipple of the Lincoln Journal Star says “Miles’ sense of humor and upbeat nature are endearing traits. But his infectious smile and quick wit belie a razor-sharp edge. He’s a killer, in a sporting sense. His abundant energy and toughness should give Nebraska fans hope he can pull the program from a malaise that has dragged on for a decade-plus.” And, early signs are Miles does have a good shot at making Cornhuskers basketball relevant. Just wait until he moves into that new arena next season.

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Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer has some questions about the Ohio State hoop team. Among them: How tough is Deshaun Thomas? Oh, he’s plenty tough. And the Buckeyes are plenty good when others around Thomas are scoring consistently.

Signing Day is less than two weeks away. Kyle Meinke of MLive.com takes a look at Michigan’s 10 best recruits since 2002. It’s a mixed bag, with some of these players panning out and playing well … while others failed to live up to the hype. Sound familiar? Oh, Ryan Mallett is No. 1.

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It’s no secret: Iowa needs help at receiver. Keenan Davis is gone, as is wideout coach Erik Campbell. The Hawkeyes already have commitments from four players who could play wideout. And they still are wooing more. Yes, the situation is THAT dire.

BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men’s basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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